MR MASSEY AND MR TAYLOR

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7869, 3 August 1911, Page 6

MR MASSEY AND MR TAYLOR

Most people, wo should imagine, hoped yesterday they would hear no more of what had como to he known as (< the Massey-Taylor episode.” A purely personal quarrel between two members of the House had, by a peculiar and most unfortunate combination of circumstances, been raised to an importance no ono could possibly hare foreseen. Mr Taylor’s dramatic challenge to his accuser, the riotous meeting at Christchurch, and then Mr Taylor’s tragic death gave the personalities of last session a painful setting in the public mind. Yet, no one who knew Mr Taylor believed the charge brought against him was true. Nor could anyone who knows Mr Massey have failed to realise that his words on that occasion deserved a liberal discount. However that may be, Mr Taylor’s death put, if not a fresh complexion on the incident, at least an entirely now situation before _tho communitj. This Me Mas-

sey immediately realised and, in view of certain remarks whicli fell from Mr Poole last night, wo are bound to say that he faced iho position like a man. He unreservedly withdrew the remark he had made during a fierce, passionate debate, in which personal feelings were stirred to boiling point, and expressed regret for what he had said. His withdrawal was absolute, Mr Taylor’s vindication was complete. Mr Massey" could do no more. He behaved like a docent citizen and' like every man might hope to do if placed in the same unhappy position. People are not entitled to laudation for correct conduct in such emergencies any more than an individual who may not beat his wife is entitled to wear a halo. But they may rightly expect that the episode which called for correction should .be wiped from the memory. Mr Poole, we think, would be wise to remember this, for Mr Massey’s prompt withdrawal clears from the public mind any resentment that may have been felt. Any further references to the matter would be ungenerous to the last degree. The language used in a moment of heat has been recalled. That is enough.